Chapter 19
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THE BATHROOM DOOR SNICKEDshut, and Knox ran a hand through his hair, mulling over their next steps.He’d feel better when they were back on a bird, flying the hell out of Afghanistan.That posed another problem.Abandoning their vehicles hadn’t been part of the plan.They’d have to arrange for a ride to their extraction point, then board a helo to Pakistan and finally a flight back home.
Shit.
He was already working over the specifics in his mind, knowing his teammates had already contacted Holt.This wasn’t the first time shit had gone south on an op, but hell—it was the first time he’d had a woman he cared for with him.
Xaden appeared in the doorway, his gaze sharp as he looked between Knox and the closed bathroom door.“How is she?”Xaden asked in a low voice.
“Scared.Overwhelmed.Thankfully, not hurt.”
Xaden nodded, looking relieved.
Knox cocked his head toward the hall.“What about Sloane?Can we trust her?”
“I’m not buying she’s with State,” Xaden said.“Apparently, she’s been posing as an aid worker here in Kabul.”He shook his head.“That’s not my concern at the moment.Holt’s trying to assess the status of our vehicles.”
“Guessing they’re long gone,” Knox said, a knot tightening in his chest.
“Afraid so.We didn’t have time to hide them or leave a man behind.If Qureshi had disappeared further into the crowd with Quinn, we could’ve lost her.”
“I don’t regret it.”
“Neither do I,” Xaden said.“I’m damn glad we found her.She’s lucky she didn’t go through worse, and that’s putting it mildly.”
Both men’s heads swiveled toward the bathroom door as they heard the shower start.Knox had given her the small toiletry kit he carried.It wasn’t much, but it would do the job in the meantime.Something stirred in his chest at the idea of Quinn using his shampoo and bodywash—of her reappearing in his clothes.In spite of everything that was happening, he still found her sexy as hell.He’d never do anything inappropriate, but shit.He was a red-blooded male, and the woman behind that door was a gorgeous, tempting woman.
Knox wanted to both keep her safe and kiss the hell out of her.Explore what was happening between them.When they got home, there was nothing he’d love more than to strip her bare and explore every inch of that satiny soft skin.Knox was getting way ahead of himself, however.Even after she’d reacclimated to being back in Seattle, he wanted to date her.Bring her flowers.See her smile.And then—eventually—make her his in every way.
“I gave Quinn some of my clothes to change into,” Knox said.“I’m guessing we won’t get much rest tonight, but I’m hoping to convince her to get a few hours of shut eye.”
“She’s holding up really well given the circumstances,” Xaden said.“Sloane has maps of the city,” he added, changing the subject.“We’re comparing them to our own.We could send a scout out to check on the status of our vehicles, but I’m not sure that’s worth the risk, given the likelihood they were already found.”
“Does Sloane have contacts here?”Knox asked.
“She won’t say.It doesn’t matter.Holt is already working on getting us a ride to the extraction point.The timeline may have changed, but we’ll be a go for morning.”
